Inspection machine for packaged goods



1. H. REYNOLDS INSPECTION MACHINE FOR PACKAGED GOODS Jan. T5,

5 Sheeis-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 25, 1943 'ro #MPL/mm? Q (Ittdmeg 5 sheets-Shet 2.

1m llllllllllllllllllllllllllllljlllllllllllI mumuu'filmff V J. H. REYNOLDS INSPECTION MACHINE FOR PACKAGED -GOODS Filed Jan. 25, 1943 v Jan. 15, 1946.

I Gttomeg J. H. REYNoLbs I Jan. 15, 19,4&

' INSPECTION MACHINE FOR PACKAGED GOODS Filed Jan. 25,: 1943 5Shee1is-Sheet s f (Ittorueg J. H. REYNOLDS INSPEC'LIOII MACHIIE FOR PACKAGED GOODS Jan. E1946.

5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 25, 1945 Jan. 15, 1946 J. H. REYNOLDS" 4 7 2,393,188

INSPECTION MACHINE FOR PACKAGED GOODS Filed Jan. 25, 1943 5 Sheets- Sheet 5 (Ittomeg Patented Jan. 15, 1946 UNITED STATES PAT NT OFFICE.

INSPECTION MACHINE FOR PACKAGED GOODS James H. Reynolds, Indianapolis, Ind... assignor to Radio Corporation of America, a corporation of Delaware Application January 25,1943, Serial No. 473,552

12 Claims.

- My invention relates to an inspection machine for packaged goods, and more particularly to mechanism for rejecting, in a conveyor system,

transparent packages or bottles having foreign particles in fluid contained therein. It is in the nature of an improvement over structure dis-' closed in United States patent to G. P. Stout, No. 2,132,447, issued October 11, 1938.

An object of my invention is to provide a simsplifled reject mechanism that is positive in its action and free or jamming and bottle breakage.

A further object of my invention is to improve upon the rejecting mechanism disclosed in said p tent,

In the operation of a bottle contents inspection machine such as disclosed in Stout U. S. Patent *vention is'to provide a timing device for the operation of the electrical amplifier and to provide means of causing the rejection of a. bottle containing foreign material at the proper point on the machine. v

Other and incidental objects of my invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from a reading of the following specification and an inspection or the accompanying drawings, in

which:

,Figure'l is a plan view of the machine involving my inventio Figure 1c is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the machine showing a preferred form of my invention.

Figure 2 is a front elevation view of the, ma-

chine. Figure 3 is a front elevation view in enlarged size of the inspection and reject timing device.

Figure 4 is an end elevation view, in section,

- oi the reject and amplifier timing device.

Figure 4a is a circuit diagram of the amplifier and relay. I

Figure 5 is a plan view in. detail of a reject gate shown in dotted lines in Figure l.

Figure 6 is a front elevation view or. the reiect gate.

Figure 7 is a plan view of the inspection timing and reject timing devicein detail.

Figure 8 is a detailed section of a reject pin. Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a. turret carrier 35 star-wheel to said belt.

ranged tangentially relative to the belt 22. and

" 2 is mounted on a. pedestal I, which in turn is mounted on base I. The turret is mounted on bearings and is free to revolve in a, clockwise direction. The turret 2 carries bottle holders 8 6 and I0 spaced at equal intervals around the 011- cumference of the turret. These bottle holders are provided with pulleys l2 by which it is pos' sible to spin the bottles 9 rapidly prior to reach ing the inspection position between elements l8,

l0 l4, and Ill, that are, respectively, a light source and optical system, and a bank of phototubes. The phototubes ii are connected to an amplifier, shown in Figures input. Mounted on the bottom of the turret 2 is a ring gear It by which the turret is made to revolve through connection to a suitable ear reducer andran electric motor, not shown. The machine is provided with an inieed-outfeed conveyor, belt which passes through the ifront of 2 the machine, and a reject conveyor means comprising a disc conveyor 84 and a second belt 22 which removes the rejected bottles. There is also an infeed timing mechanism 24, and bottle guides 28, 28, 29, '80, 32, and 84. Inieed starwheel 3t 25 is provided, which in conjunction with the bottle guides shown, receives successively the incoming bottles from theinfeed belt 20 and places them in the cups or bottle holders 8 on the turret. 2. The guide 28 is a curved outer guide spaced from 30 the starwheel 81 in concentric relation therewith for maintaining said bottles in operative relation to said starwheel, said guide terminating at a point of tangency relative to the line of travel of said belt 2|! for releasing said bottles from said The starwheel 3i, ar-

the turret carrier 2, in cooperation with the bottle guide 28 and reject gate 72, removes the botties from the turret and places the selected or 40 rejected bottles'either on conveyor 20 or on the reject conveyor means 84 and 22, as the case may be. An accepted bottle, one containing no foreign material, will be allowed to pass out-on conveyor 20, while, a bottle containing foreign material will be directed to conveyor means as and 22. The belt 22 moves in a substantially parallel direction to belt 20. The inswction processes used are those disclosed in above mentioned Patents 2,132,447 or 2,253,581. In these to inspection processes the bottle to be inspected is spun rapidly prior to inspection, and immediately before inspection the rotation of the bottle is stopped, allowing the contents to still rotate.

Referring to Figure 3 and Figure 4, 3B and 40 M are amplifier timing cams operating switches 82 4 and do, by leads I!v to the i and It which respectively control the inspection thningand'check timing of the amplifier. I At the time oi inspection a timing device II closes 1 switch and completes the plate circuit or the 'flrisitubc, such'as a gas tube-type once, in the f amplifier ii. allowing the signal from the bottle un dcr inspe'ction to cause theoperstion of a relay Fill in the plate-circuit oi this tube. See Figure '44, for a simplified diagram of the amplifier and bridge relay circuit, in P rt, usedat it in Figure 4. inspection and relect timing device conuse of airame on which is mounted a selector which reiect pins 40, one for each momentum-mt 2. Theselectordisc' $11011 ear 1.

the worm II and gear 8!. Attached selector tscts oroutput terminals 01 the inspection amplifier and relay, through leads It, is the sole-. noid ll which operates the lever il having cam normally held in the inoperative position by the local current from source I in .the'j solenoid N,

the relay II in theamnl fler oper- 2,893,188 v r extensive with guide 28. and the starwheel 8] then tuch'ed to the cam arm in. This faceplate is I -.'1. of the shaft carrying; the worm II is I4 whichmeshes with the turret ring il'il'ig; 2). The gear'ratios are such that disc 4! makes complete-reclaim "tion for every revolution oi. the turret 2 and the the'timing cams II and makes lone revolution while the turret is-advancingone bottle position. 1 Connected to reject relay oonr ti. 7. lever is ates", in accordance with a bottle to be rei afi such aposition' that the pin it. which is passing over'the cam suriace u at the time. is pushed outward irom the disc. The device-oi Figures 3 andiisshownindottedlineset ilinrisure 1.

Adet'entpinldisprovidediorthereiectpin jll,asshownini'igure8. Acamllisprowided for returning any reject pins which have been I the'current to the -solenoid Is is interruptedand a spring '8 (l'igure '2) moves the lever I. into moved to the reject position, backward'tothe a v normalor accep d position. A switch-la and cam ll (Iig'ur'e' 3) are provided to actuate the" II are arranged-at such intervals that during the time the reject pin has traveled from cam ii. to

reject gate I! at the proper time, The solenoid II and lever "and the switch and cam II carries the bottle further in its curved or circular path to the reject transfer disc and thence to the reject conveyor 22. In eil'ect, the preselected package or bottle is delayed inits release from the'starwheel 31. The reiect gate is held in theclosed position an amount of time determined by the shape of a cam faceplate Ii ateration of solenoid It and lever ll. 'Ihe selector discliturnsinaclockwisedirectionasvlewed in Figure 3, and any raised pin causes arm Isf to move leftward, actuating switch I! which Figure 1 has beenin successful operation in ex.-

perimentalappsratus. I- have shown. however.

in Figure is an improved form of reic t gate that has advantages over the term now in use. Instead of the gate movinglatersily t0 511831781! extend the length or the bottle-guide I! to cause a, desired bottle to stay with the star'wheel until it reaches the reject conveyor disc I, in the im proved form of my invention the guide "is ei-- fectlveiy extended by circumferential movement ot'the gate. With this-movement there are'seversl advantages-including less tendency to bottle breakage; Referring in'd'et'aii to Figure 1a; a' 4 curvedreiect gate 02 is carried by'an arm II wardly-and oonnectedtctheaxigoithestsrwheel ink Sleeve one tree to revolve on shaft" and is supported at sumcient height to clear the tops notes attire-point of tangency to the oi --travel oi the conveyor and the gate I! toguide 28 as shown. The gate 82 is caused swing into its reject position I! which is by the action of sspring ll acting inthe same the reject (the assembly in detail," is the Oilfi- Ireed star-wheel, 1: ielthe reject gate, pivotally;

supported on at 1|,wmcn allow it-Ltomove i'nahorizontal plane about bearing .TI; ';The

reiect gate .11 is held in the reject shown by dotted linesll', by-the spring It-anti the rod is heldin' suitable-bearings so and u. There-g iect gate is normally held in the accept position by the'solenold I: which in turn is controlled inspection means moves mm its normally inoperative position forward across the conveyor 2| reject gate ll has substantially the same radius 20. This date then here in the starwheel. 1

1 manner as in the other arrangement of Figure l 5. The solenoid plunger It is connected by a link 88. to a pin on sleeve It for exerting torque I against that exerted by the spring 81. A torque motor could beused mounted coasiany. relative to the starwheel either above or below the'wheel, with its shaft connected to arm ,'ll;-licouldbeconsideredastheshartoia torque motor which might be represented by N, and which; may be mounted below the machine with its short extending up through rig central Minor changes may be iii-the physical embodiment or or the process involved in my in-.

ventionwithout departing from the spirit thereof.

.'conveyor belt for packages, a turret carrier tor but not assess the circular path oi travel of the bottles, under the influence of the spring 18. The

v of curvature as the curved outer guide structure ,reeemng sm packasesior inspection; a starwheel for transferring said packages successively to said turret from said belt, on outi'eed conveyor belt, a second star-wheel arranged tangentially relative to said outieed belt to transfer I said packages from said carrier to said outieed serves as a guide being 00- 1g belt, a'curved outer guide structure for said pack- 811b- J stsntially eoextensivewith curved guide 28,

response to the deenergization oi solenoid II and Y Having thusdescribed my invention-Iowan? -1. An inspectionmachine or the class described. in combination with inspectionmeans, an inieed ages concentrically relative to said secture having substantially the same radius ioi cur. vatureas said outer guide structure mounted in an inoperative position relative to-the movement V of said packages in said path, actuating means responsive to said ins ection means for moving" said gate structure into a position substantially coextensive with said curved guide structure without intersecting said path-tor causing a preselected package to be carried farther in the same relative to said outieed belt to transfer said packages from said carrier to said outie'ed belt, a

curved outer guide structin-e for said packages disposed concentrically relative to-said second starwheel and terminating at a point oi tangency relative to the line oi! travel or said outieed belt, reject conveyor means, a curved reject gate structure having substantially the same radius or our.

coextensive with .said curved guide structure tor causing a preselected package tube carried by said starwheei into a positi n of ammca; by sald'reiect conveyor means. t l v 0nd starwheel for causing said packagesto travel in a circular path and terminating at azpoint oi tangency relative to the line of travel of said outieed belt, conveyor means. a curved sate struc vature as said outer guide structure, means ior mounting said reject gate structure coaxially' 4 relative to said second star-wheel, actuating means responsive to said inspection means for moving said gatelstructure into a position'substantialiy 3.' An inspectionmechine oi the class described, in combination with inspection means, an inieed conveyor belt for packages, a turret carrier ior receiving said packages ior inspection, a starwheei for transierring said packages successively to said turret from said belt, an outieed conveyor belt, a second starwheel arranged tangentially relative to said outieed belt to'transier said packages from i said carrier to said outie'ed belt, a curvedouter guide structure tor said packages disposed concentricallyrelatlve to said secondstarwbeei and terminating at a point, of tangency. relative to the line of travel at said outfeed belt, releot conveyor means, a curved reject gate structure having su'bstantially the same radius of curvature as said said guide structure in cverlapp s relationtberes with, actuating means responsive to said iniqaeci-"j tion means for moving said gatestructureinto a ."poaitififl'ilhfio an operative position without inter! delaying'the release of preposition substantially coextensive with said guide structure eiiectively extending. said guidingstructure circumierentially a distance "sunk clent for causing a preselected mkage'to be care i rledby said starwheel mics positio'irof acceptance by said reiect conveyor means.

. 4. The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said conveyor means comprises structure for 1 selected, package. to said conveyor 8. .The invention as set forth in claim .5 where:

, 55.1mm said outer guide structure mounted closely adjacent a conveyor belt, means comprising astarwhe'el for transierring' said packages in a circular path from said carrier to said belt subsequent to in 'spection, conveyor means comprising a secondconveyor belt arranged to move in a-direction substantially parallel to that'oi said first mentioned belt, a curved gate normally disposed in i of packages or iluid past said inspectionmeans.

an inoperative position relative tothe, of said packages in said path, and meansre- 4 sponsiveto an impuiseirom said inspection meane" "ior causing said gate'to moveintc an operative position without intersecting said path to iorma guide. substantially concentric to'caidjstarwheel i is and extend said circularoath for-diverting a m-1 j I.

in said gate. is arranged to move ii-cm said in ative into said operative relativeto'said starwheel.

.spectlon-means, a carrier tor-"carrying a succes wheel for transierring said packages from Bald e w ew s 7. A machine for inepectingiiuid 7 entpackages comprising in combination with Y carrier to said belt subsequent to inspection, is

' iect conveyor means, com

a second con-- rveyorbelt arranged to .move in a direction'sub stantially parallel to. that oi said mentioned belt. a curved reiect gate moimted concentrically relative to'said starwheel-normalLv-dispoaed in an inoperative position, and means, responsive to an impulse irom-said on mcansior ca said, gate to move ciroumiereniielly relative to, said starwheelto iormia guide substantially concentric to sald starwheel ior diverting ,a. preselectedpackage to said conveyor 8."An insp ction maehineji'orf'paclraged goods. in combination with inspection, 'a-conveyor belt for saidpackages, a turret carrier for receiving said packages from said belt'for inspection,

;a starwheel disposed in tangential relation to said belt and said turret carrier and to said dis-carrier for returning packages successively from said carrier to said conveyor belt, said pac being's'paced a short distance relative to their width in thedirection oi movement, a curved outer Jguide spaced from said starwh'eelin con- 50 centric relation tl'iercvvith, for maintaining said packages-in operative; relation awitn said star wri r-in; curved path, said guide. t rminatin at a or tangencymelatiw to the line oitravel of said belt, (or. releasing said s wheel to conveyor" belt,- diverting means disposed in an inoperative position relative 3 to the movement oi said Packages in said th accepting selected of said packages from said second starwheel in substantial tangential iorward relation to said path and a reject conveyor ,1 belt arranged to move in a direction substantially parallel to that of said outieed conveyor belt. '1 5. A machine for inspecting fluid in transpar received .irom said inspection means to .movesaid-iiiverting means irom said inoperativesectihg said both. {or selected packages-4mm said star-wheel. v

andmeans actuated in response to electrical im- I v s. The invention as set forth in claim a wherein said diverting-"means is pivoted at a tenternelly 0,! said path and swings into its ative position at a point farther along said path "whereby said diverting means eifectively forms an extension of said guide in a-circumferential' direction relative to said starwheel.

1c. The invention as set forth in'ciaim a where in a reject conveyor means is provided for receiv ing rejected packages from said starwheel and a said diverting means and wherein said reject convcyor means comprises a belt moving in a direc- 4 1cmsubstantially parallel with mime, belt.

11. The invention as set forth in claim 8 wherein reject conveyor means is provided for receiving rejected packages Irom said starwheel in substantially tangential forward direction relative to said path and for causing some to move in a direction substantially parallel to those on said conveyor belt.

12. An inspection machine in combination with inspection means, a conveyor belt ior'said packages, a turret carrier ior receivin: said packages from said belt for inspection, a starwheel disposed in tangential relation to said belt and to said turret carrier and scared to said carrier for returnins packazes successively from said carrier to said conveyor belt, a curved outer guide spaced from said starwheel in concentric ior packaied goods relation therewith for maintaining said packages in operative relation with said stsrwheel in a curved path, said guide terminating at a'polnt of tangency relative to the line of travel 0! said 

